Key opening sanitary can



Feb. 13, 1934. P. H. LANGE KEY OPENING SANITARY CAN Filed July 1. 1932 z &

INVENTOR PAM/4 Him/G5 e .1 I ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 13, 1934 metres STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cans and has particular relation to key-opening or tear-oil strip cans, in which the can top, after removal, can be used as a slip 5 cover.

An object of the invention is to provide a can of the kind statedand which includes a minimum number of parts and which is suitable for automatic production at low cost.

Another object is to provide a can of the type stated and wherein no raw or unfinished edges are presented to the contents of the can and wherein there are no inside parts between which and the can wall dirt may collect.

It is therefore a further object to provide a can of the type indicated and which is easily cleaned and rendered sanitary.

An additional object is to provide a can body and top construction wherein the top will serve to materially strengthen the can body, particularly when the can has been vacuumized.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein satisfactory embodirnents of the invention are shown. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section and showing the upper or top portion of my improved can prior to the removal of the tear-off strip;

Fig. 2 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 1, the tear-off strip being removed and the can top being shown in use as a slip cover;

40 Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken substantially along the line 14 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view showing a slightly modified construction.

" Referring in detail to the drawing, the improved can as herein disclosed comprises a body portion 10 the bottom of which (not shown) may be secured in any suitable manner and the top so 11 of which is permanently seamed to the body as at 12 and which may be formed with the usual side seam 13 disposed at the interior of the body.

Near its upper end the body is scored at spaced points 14, the said scores being at the inner ;side of the body and providing a tear-off strip 22. The usual tongue 15 is provided on the outer side of the can for engagement by a key whereby the tear-off strip may be wound about the key to sever the top from the body of the can.

Below the scores 14 the body is formed with an internal bead 16, the said head extending entirely around the body, starting at one side of the seam 13 and terminating at the other side thereof as best illustrated in Fig. 3. As the bead does not pass over the side scam the latter is not distorted or broken and the manufacture of the 5 can body is greatly facilitated. The depth of the bead is equal to the height of the side seam 13 at the inner side of the can and the bead and seam therefore form one continuous line.

The top 11 includes a flange portion forming part of the seam l2 and inwardly of said portion the top -is countersunk to provide a wall 17 extending in parallel relation or substantially parallel relation with the wall of the can. This wall 1'7 of the top is spaced inwardly from the wall of the can whereby it may snugly engage the inner surface of the bead 16 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. At the inner or lower end of the wall 17, the top extends inwardly as at 18 and then inclines inwardly and upwardly as at 19 to a substantially flat central portion 20.

As above suggested the wall 17 snugly engages the inner surface of the bead 16 and this engagement is preferably such as to provide a seal for the contents of the can. Since the bead 16 extends from one side of the seam 13 to the other side thereof and is of a depth equal to the height of the seam at the inner side of the can, it will be appreciated that a continuous line is provided for engagement with the wall 1? of the top. When processing or vacuumizing a can with a top as described, the atmospheric pressure on the sealed can will tend to depress the center portion of the top. This action will be helpful since it will result in the wall 17 being pressed into engagement with the bead and therefore a tight fit will be provided between the wall and bead.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 2 and 5 the top 11A is of substantially the same construction as that of top 11 of Fig. 1, the difference between the top 11A and the top 11 residing in the wall 17 of the top 11 being considerably longer than the wall 21 of the top 11A. It will be noted in Fig. 5 that the wall 21 of the top 11A is of such length as not to engage the bead 16 prior to the removal of the tear-off strip 22. However, this wall will engage the bead when the tear-off strip has been removed and the top is 116 used as a slip cover as shown in Fig. 2. It will be apparent that the wall 17 of the top 11 will also engage the bead 16 of the can body when the tear-off strip 22 has been removed.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the cover may be made relatively shallow or With the short wall 21 of Figs. 2 and 5 or relatively deep with the long wall 17 of Fig. l. The relatively shallow or short walled top 11A is best adapted for small and medium sized cans. The relatively deep or long wall top 11 is. better adapted for larger cans and for cans which are processed or vacuumized. In the latter case the end portion of the can body which is weakened by the scoring cuts finds a substantial support against the wall of the cover while the atmospheric pressure against the counter-sunk cover also acts to force the wall of the cover against the inner surface of the bead 16. It will be understood that the can after being vacuumized is subject to external atmospheric pressure and the construction shown particularly in Fig. 1, offers an adequate protection against damaging or fracturing of the can body at its weakest section.

After being detached the top forms a sanitary and snug fitting slip cover making it possible to remove the contents from the can in small quantities, as required. Owing to the snug fit of the Wall of the top against the bead, the entrance of air to the contents of the can while the top is being used as a slip cover is prevented and spilling of the contents of the can while handling the can is also eliminated. Additionally, if desired, the bead 16 may be used as a filling mark. This bead is an important feature which serves to stiffen the body and there is no danger of damaging the side seam of the body in the formation of the bead and the bead provides for the use of the detached top as a ring fitting cover. An additional feature of the can is that it can be readily cleaned or washed before filling since there is no internal collar or other part providing a space in which dirt and germs may lodge between the can body and collar. Also, it will be noted that there are no exposed rough or unfinished edges which may be attacked'by the liquid contents of the can.

While the can is primarily intended for receiving materials which are used in small quantities, such as coffee, tea, tobacco and the like, it will be appreciated that the can is well adapted to be used for processed food products of which it is customary to use the entire can contents at one time. Also, it is to be noted that the opening of the can is greatly facilitated, the use of a cumbersome cutting tool being eliminated and there is no danger of spilling the contents while opening the can and the opening of the can does not produce sharp or jagged edges on which the user may injure himself.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A can comprising a body having a top secured thereto, said body having an inwardly disposed side seam, said body having scoring providing a tear-off strip to permit severance of the body beneath said top, said body having an internal bead below said top and extending around the can starting and stopping at the side seam thereof and of a depth equal to the height of the side seam on the inner surface of the can whereby the inner surfaces of the bead and seam form a continuous line, said top including a countersunk portion providing a Wall extending into the can, and said top adapted to be used as a slip cover for said can and have its wall snugly engage the inner surface of said bead after the removal of said tear-01f strip.

PAUL H LANGE.

a n his 

